Nested-cup attachment for cup-forming machines



Aug 3 1926. 1,594,442

c. BARBlERl NESTED CUP ATTACHMENT FOR CUP FORMING MACHINES Filed y 14, 1924 s sheets-sheet 1 Aug. 3 1926.

C. BARBIERI NESTED CUP ATTACHMENT FOR CUP FORMING MACHINES Filed July 14 s Sheets-Sheet 2 llllllllllllllllllllln ilIlil Aug. 3 1926.

C. BARBIERI NESTED CUP ATTACHMENT FOR CUP FORMING MACHINES Fi y 14, 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 3, 1926. 1,594,442

C. BARBIER] NESTED CUP ATTACHMENT FOR CUP FORMING MACHINES File uly 14 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Aug. 3 1926. 1,594,442

c. BARBIERI NESTED CUP ATTACHMENT FOR CUP FORMING MACHINES Filed July 4, 1924 e Sheets-Sheet s q: i 75 @Z W61) 0 m 0 Q Q zz gx Ev m Aug. 3 1926. 1,594,442

c. BARBIERI NESTED CUP ATTACHMENT FOR CUP FGRMING MACHINES Fil y 14 1924 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Aug. 3, .1926.

mam: nammm, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,

ASSIGIOB '10 m VORTEX IFG. GO., 0]

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A OORPQBA'IION OI ILLINOIS.

NESTEDCUP ATTACHKENT FOB CUP-FORMING moms.

Application fled m 14, an. mm m. 725,758.

This invention relates to e paper cup counting and nesting attachment for use in connection with apaper cup forming machine of a type illustrated and described in in pending application for patent for a at .paper cup forming machine, filed .March 15, 1924, Serial No. 699,424. The present invention relates to an attachment connected with the machine and operable thereby to automatically mark off formed cups at predetermined intervals after which the formed cups are advanced, expanded and nested one within the other as they are pushed over'a discharge table.

It is an object of this invention to provide a cup forming machine with attachments adapted to mark off cups in predetermined quantities and nest the formed cups as they are advanced in a discharge chute from which the nested cups may be taken in. counted numbers discernible by markings occurring at intervals on the nested cups.

It is also an object of the invention 'to provide a cup forming machine with a mechanism operable from the machine and having means whereby a marking device is caused to be operated at selected intervals to mark cups at predetermined intervals so that a counted number of the cups may be readily separated from a stack of nested cups for insertion into a carton.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a paper cup forming machine with an attachment adapted to automatically expand flat cups so that the cups may be nested one within the other as they are moved into a discharge chute.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a cup forming machine wherein a cup blank feed carriage is provided with means for causing actuation of a marking device at predetermined times to place indents on selected cups whereby the cups when nested in stacked relation may be readily taken from the machine in counted quantities for packing in cartons.

It is another important object of this invention to provide a stack of normall flat cups in such interfitting or nested re ation that the cups readily open into osition for use when individually remove from the stack.

Other and further important objects of this invention Wlll be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying drawings and specification.

. The invention (in a preferred form) is lllustrated on the drawings and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

1 is a top plan view of a flat cup making machine provided with a cu countmg or marking mechanism and wit a cup nesting deviceembodying the principles of this invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the machine taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary detail section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1 showing the counted cups in nested relation in elevation.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary. top

.plan view of the cup nesting end of the machine. a

Figure 5 is a front elevation thereof with parts omitted.

Figure 6 is a vertical view of the cup nesting end of the machine.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken on line 77 of Figure 4.

Figure Sis a detail sectional view taken on line 88 of Figure 1. v

. Figure 9 is an enlargedfra mentary plan view of aportion of the cup orming device showing the cup marking mechanism.

Figure 10 is a front elevation of the portions of the machine illustrated in Figure9.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary sectional viewv taken on line 1111 of-Figure 4.

Figure 12 is a detail view taken on line 1212 of Figure 9 showing the marker in elevated position.

- Figure 13 is a similar View illustrating the operation with the marker in lowered mark ing position.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference'numeral 1 indicates a machine frame having journalled thereon in suitable bearings a main driving shaft 2 adapted to be driven from any suitable source of power. the shaft 2 and is trained around a sprocket gear to drive a clutch mechanism designated as a whole by the reference numeral A chain 3 is driven from.

4. The clutch 4 is adapted to be controlled by means of a handle 5 which when operated actuates a starting shaft 6 whereby a yoke carrying pins 7 acts to shift a clutch collar 8. The clutch mechanism 4 may also be operated by means of a handwheel 9. Mounted on one end of the machine frame is a cup blank feed magazine 10 having blank feed mechanisms adapted to be operated from the clutch carrying shaft 11. A gear 12 and a bevel gear 13 are operated from the blank feed mechanisms through a gear 14. The gears 12 and 13 are mounted on a shaft 15 on the front end of which a wheel or disk 16 is mounted. An eccentric pin 17 is mounted on the wheel 16 and has connected therewith one end of an eccentric rod or bar 18. The eccentric bar 18 is pivotally supported near its other end on a pin 19 carried on the lower end of a link 20 which is fixed on a pin 21 carried by a slidable block 22. The block 22 is slidable in a slot 23 provided on the front of the machine frame 1. An extension arm 24 is integrally formed at an angle on one end of the bar 18. Pivotally connected to the end of the arm 24 is one end of a connecting rod 25 the other end being pivotally connected to the upper end of the outer arm of a double arm lever 26. The lower end of the lever 26 is pivoted on a bracket 27 secured on the machine frame 1.

A bar 28 is connected with the slidable block 22 and has mounted thereon a blank advan ing plate 29 which extends into the path of the advancing cup blanks. A blank gripper mechanism 30 is also carried by the bar 28. A cup blank carrying carriage 31 is provided on the bar 28 and has a cup blank centering flange formed thereon.

When a cup blank is fed out of the cup blank holding magazine 10 it is delivered onto a stationary table 32 provided with a raised curved stop edge 33. A stationary table 34 is provided and is separated from the table 32 by a diagonal o ening or slot 35 in which a pair of separate upper and lower blank folding bars 36 are adapted to operate.

A cup blank 37 is adapted to be gripped by the gripper mechanism 30 and is carried over the table 3234 into a position over the folding bars 36. A glue applying mechanism 38 is operable from a cam shaft 39 which has a beveled gear 40 thereon meshing with the bevel gear 13 to receive a drive therefrom. The glue applying mechanism is adapted to apply a dab of glue to the under surface of the advanced cup blank 37.

When the gripper mechanism 30 is advanced into position to grip the next cup blank the blank feed plate 29 is in its advance position over-the stationary table 32 and above a portion of the advanced cup blank 37. Just previous to the time that the gripper mechanism starts to move away from the cup blank magazine the blank folding bars 36 are operated by a cam wheel 41 which is driven by the cam shaft 39. The folding bars 36 are thus raised through the table opening 35 and act to bend up a portion of the advanced cup blank 37 while the other portion of the cup blank is held in place by the feed plate 29.

As the gripper mechanism engages the next blank and starts to move away from the blank holding magazine 10 the blank feed plate 29 moves through the slot between the bars 36 thereby causing the upturned portion of the first cup blank to be folded over against the. top surface of the feed plate 29. v

As the partially folded cup blank is advanced by the feed plate 29 a second glue applying mechanism 42 operable by the cam wheel 41 acts to apply a strip of glue to a margin of the blank. As the strip of glue is being applied to a margin or flap of the cup blank, the cup blank is advanced into the field of operation of a flap-folding mechanism operable from a cam 43 on the cam shaft 39. The glued flap is thus folded over against the body of the partially formed cup. A cup feed cam 44 operable by a gear train 45 (Figure 1) now acts to advance the partially formed cup as the feed plate 29 starts to move back toward the blank holding magazine 10.

A. cup tip bending device 46 is operable by a cam 47 which receives a drive through meshing bevel gears 48 and 49. The beveled gear 49 is mounted on the end of the cam shaft 39. The cup tip bending device 46 acts to bend over the tip of the cup and at the same time the feed cam 44 engages the cup and advances the same thereby causing the cup tip to be bent upwardly against the underside of the body of the cup so that the spot of glue applied by the glue mechanism 38 acts to glue the tip to the cup body thereby completingthe forming of the flat cup 50."

The cup 50 is advanced by the feed cam 44 between a pair of feed rollers 51 which press the glued parts together and at the same time advance the cup 50 over onto a table extension 52. Secured on the end of the machine frame 1 is a casting 53 having an extending arm 54 on which a carriage 55 is slidably engaged. A stop 56 is fixed on the end of the arm 54. The carriage 55 is provided with vertical guide slots in which a plate 57 is slidably engaged. Theslideplateis connected bv tog les to the lever 26 (Figure 2). Integrally formed at right angles to the upper edge of the slide plate 57 is a horizontal plate 58 which extends transversely beneath the table extension 52. Secured to the bracket plate 58 on apposite sides of the table extension 52 area pair of slide bars 59 recessed at 60 leaving upturned hooks or fin ers 61. The hooks 61 are slightly curve to conform to the curvature of the curved oppn end of the flat cup 50. A cup pocket is t us provided in the slidable cup removing bars 59 which slide in guide grooves or slots 62 provided in the bottom of a flanged or channel-shaped cup discharge chute or' trough 63. The cup discharge chute 63 is supported by a bracket 64 secured to the discharge end of the machine frame 1.

Mounted on the machine frame casting 53 between the 'feed rollers 51 and the discharge chute 63 is a grooved or angle crosssectioned cup uide rail 65 and a supporting rail 66. Rigi 1y secured to the top of the outer portion of the guide rail.65 is a cup expanding rail 67 having an inwardly projecting ta ered or beveled flange 68. Fastened to t e top of the rail 66 is a cup expanding rail 69 having an inwardly directed tapered or beveled flange 70 disposed opposite the flange 68. The flat cups advanced by the feed rollers 51 are delivered one at a time between the beveled flanges 68 and 70 of the cup expanding rails 67 and 69 respectively and are gradually expanded at the open ends so that the cups may be nested one within the other (as illustrated in Fig ure 3) as the cups are pushed into the cup discharge or outlet chute .63.

A cup counting and marking mechanism is provided on the machine and comprises a bracket 71 which is secured to the \machine frame 1- and is provided with a bearin 72 in which a shaft 73 is journalled. upported .on one end of the shaft 73 is a hookshaped lever 74 havin a head 75 on the free end thereof. A coi ed spring 76 has one end thereof secured to the lever 74 and the other end attached toa pinion or arm 77 forming on the bracket 71. Supported 'on the opposite end of the shaft 73 is a ratchet 78 carrying a pin 79. A spring controlled pawl 80 is supported on .the lever 74 and co-acts with the ratchet 78. The ratchet pin 79 is adapted to co-act at predetermined times with a finger 81 integrally formed on one end of a bar 82 fulcrumed on the bracket arm 77.. A resilient hook 83 is attached to the opposite end of the fulcrumed bar 82. The pawl 80 and ratchet 78 are actuated b the lever 74 which in turn is operated eac time the block 22 is advanced toward the cup blank magazine to permit the grippers 30 to grip. another cup blank. Supported on the slidable block 22 is a bracket 84 having a rod 85 adjustably mounted thereon and positioned to move in a path in line with the head 75 of the lever 74 to actuate said lever and the ratchet 78 each time the block 22 is advanced toward the cup blank holding magazine 10. The pin 79 on the ratchet 78 is thus gradually advanced toward the finger said hook is positioned in the path of a pin .88 mounted on a disk 89. The disk 89 is sup orted on one end of a spring controlled sha t 90 which is journalled in a bearing bracket 91 mounted upon the traveling carriage 31. Projecting diametrically through anopening in the enlarged, opposite end of the shaft 90 is an arm. 92 held in place by a set screw 93. A marking pin or pointer 94 is carried by the arm 92 and is adapted to r produce a mark or indent 95 (Figure 3) on cups at counted intervals so that when the expanded cups are stacked in nested relation in the dlscharge chute63 they may be removed in counted numbers ready to be packed in cartons for shipment or storage.

The operation is as follows:

A stack of cup blanks 37 of a shape sim-. ilar to that illustrated in Figure 9, is deposited in tne cup blank magazine 10. By operating the control handle 5 the clutch mechanism 4 is operated and a drive is transmitted by the chain 3 to the shaft 11 and to the blank feed mechanisms. The blank feed mechanism is so constructed that at a predetermined time in each revolution the owermost cup blank in the magazine is fed out of the magazine onto the raised portion 33 of the stationary table 32.

With the delivery of a cup blank from the magazine the disk 16 actuates the eccentric bar 18 and the link 20. The lower gripper jaw of the gripper mechanism 30 is thus moved into open position. The slidable block 22 is advanced by the action of the eccentric bar 18 so that the open gripper mechanism is moved into position ready to grip the advanced cup blank. With the continued rotation of the disk 16 the gripper mechanism is closed to grip the advanced cup blank; atter which the block 22 starts tomove away from the magazine 10. The cup blank is pulled over the table sections 32 and 34 and over the lowered bars 36.

The gripper mechanism 30 is now opened to release the advanced cup blank as the block 22 again starts to move toward the magazine 10. The feeder plate 29 is moved over the top of the cup blank as the flange on the carriage 31 acts to push the cup blank back against the raised edge 33 of the table 32 to properly center the cup blank. The glue applying mechanism 38 is now operated from the cam shaft 39 and acts to apply a dab of glue to the under surface of the centered cup blank.

The cam wheel 41 now acts to raise the bars 36 to bend up a portion of the cup blank along one edge of the feed plate 29. As another blank is gripped by the gripper mechanism the block 22 startsto move away from the magazine and the feed plate 29 acts to draw the cup blank between the raised bars 36 to bend over the upturned portion of the cup blank. As the cup blank is folded and advanced the second glue applying mechanism 42 is operated by the cam wheel 41 to cause a strip of glue to be applied to a margin of the cup blank.

With the continued advance of the feed plate 29 the glued margin of the cup blank 1s next creased, and bent upwardly after which the cam 43 on the cam shaft 39 acts to operate a flap folding mechanism whereby the glued margin of the cup blank is bent over against the body of the cup. The

artially formed cup is advanced further by the feed plate 29 into a position wherein the tip of the partially completed cup projects over an edge of the table section 3 1. The cam 47 now acts to operate the cup tip bending device 46 which bends the tip of the on downwardly. At this stage in the operation the block 22 starts to again move toward the magazine 10 and carries the rod 85 into contact with the head 75 of the lever 74 thereby swinging the lever upwardly and causing the pawl 80 to rotate the ratchet 78 the distance of one tooth (Figure 10) each time another cup blank is engaged by the gripper mechanism. The pin 79 on the ratchet 7 8 is thus gradually carried around into the position illustrated in Figure 13 whereit contacts the finger 81 of the fulcrumed bar 82. The bar 82 is thus actuated and moves the book 83 upwardly from the position shown in Figure 12 into the position illustrated in Figure 13. As the block 22 starts to move away from the magazine 10 the carriage 31 carrying the marking mechanism brings the pin 88 on the disk 89 into contact with the raised hook 83. The disk 89 is thus rotated thereby causing a partial rotation of the shaft 90. The arm 92 is thereby swung downwardly causing the pointer 94 to make an indent 95 in the par tially formed cup 50 when in the position illustrated in Fi ure 1. The pointer 94 is actuated to mar every-twenty-fifth cup. As the pin 79 passes the finger 81 the bar 82 swings back to normal position thereby lowering the hook 83 out of the field of movement of the pin 88.

With the bending down of the tip of the cup 50 the block 22 and the carriage 31 move toward the magazine 10 and the cup feed plate 29 is moved out of the partially ormed cup. I The cup feed cam 44 now engages the flat cup and feeds the same between the feeding rolls 51. As the cup is advanced by the feed cam 44 the bent over tip of the cup is bent upwardly against the body of the cup so that the dab of glue will 'tainers.

- struction may cause the tip'to adhere to the body of the fiat cup.

The cup feed rolls 51 now act to advance the completed marked flat cup over onto the table extension 52. The flat cup drops by gravity into the pocket of the cup removing bars 59. The bars 59 are advanced by the carriage 55 which is slidable on the guide bar 54 by the action of the lever arm 26 and the toggle mechanism connecting said lever arm with the plate 57 The lever arm 26 is actuated by the rod 25 from the end of the arm 24 forming a part of the eccentric bar 18. As the carriage 55 starts to move outwardly the bell crank 96 is operated by the link 97, (Figure 2) so that the plate 57 is raised and elevates the bars 59. These bars 59 being positioned beneath the cup lift the same and carry the cup outwardly between the cup expanding flanges 68 and with the tapered end of the fiat cup in the lead. As the wide 1part of the cup comes into contact with the anges 68 and 70 the open end of the cup is expanded or opened as illustrated in Figure 7.

The flat cups are automatically formed by the machine and are advanced by the rollers 51, one at a time to be engaged by the bars 59 which lift the cups so that the hooks 61 are positioned to pull the cups between the flanges 68 and 70 to expand or Open the cups as they are being advanced and nested one within the other before entering the cup discharge chute 63. Every twenty-fifth cup is marked with an indent 95 (Figure 3) so that the nested cups may be readily removed from the chute 63 in counted numbers and deposited in cartons ready for storage or shipment.

The counting mechanism may be arranged to mark and count off any desired number of cups by simply changing the ratchet 7 8 to one with more or less teeth as desired.

The cups are automatically glued, formed, marked, expanded and then nested one within the other and discharged in nested counted form into the discharge chute 63 ready to be packed in cartons or other con- I am aware that numerous details of conbe varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and Itherefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a machine for making flat paper cups, of a cup discharge chute connected with the machine, and mechanisms operable from the machine for nesting the cups one within the other and pushing the same through said chute.

2. The combination with a machine for making fiat paper cups, of a cup discharge chute connected with the machine, a stationary cup expanding mechanism, and means for moving the formed flat cups through. the expanding mechanism to expand the cups and nest the same one within the other in said chute.

3. The combination with a machine for making flat paper cups, of a stationar restricting mechanism on the machine, an means for conveying the formed flat cups through the expanding mechanism to open the cups, and

' nest the same one within the other.

4. The combination with a machine for making flat paper cups, of stationary cup expand-'- ing members mounted on the machine, and a mechanism operated from the machine adapted to receive a formed flat paper cup and draw the same between said expanding members to cause opening of the cup.

5. The combination with a flat cup forming machine, ot a cup receiving chute, means operable from the machine adapted to mark off the cups in counted numbers, and mechanisms operable from the machine for opening the fiat cups and nesting the same one within the other for delivery into said chute.

6. The combination with a fiat cupforming machine, of a cup expanding device on the machine, a reciprocating carriage operable from'the machine, and mechanisms carried by the carriage and operable from the machine for receiving cups from the machine and drawing the cups through the expanding device. p

-7. In a fiat cup forming machine, a cup receiving chute connected therewith, a' car riage, means operated from the machine connected to reciprocate the carriage,'a.slidable plate on the carriage, mechanisms con-' nected with "the plate to operate the same, a

pair of cup expanding members mounted on themachine, and cup delivering means supported on said carriage plate adapted to carry the flat cups from the machine through the expanding members to cause opening of the 1 cups and nesting thereof in the cup receivfng chute. v

8. The combinationwith a cup forming machine, of a reciprocating carriage operated from the machine for carrying cup blanks through the machine to be formed into flat cups, a cup counting mechanism mounted on the machine, a cup marker carried by the reciprocating carriage, and means on the carriage adapted to actuate the cup counting mechanism to cause the cup marker to operate at predetermined times to mark ofi predetermined quantities of cups.

9. The combination with a cup receiving chute, of cup restricting means on said chute, and mechanisms for conducting fiat cups through the restricting means to cause ing of the cups and nesting thereof in the cup receiving chute.

10. The combination with a cup making openmachine, of a cup receiving chute, o fmeans operated from the machine for nesting cups in said chute, and-a marking device operat ed from the machine for marking off the cups in counted quantities before being nested in the chute.

11. The combination with a cup forming a machine, of 'means for conveying cup blanks through the machine to be formed into cups, a cup counting mechanism supported on the machine, a cup marking device on the conveying means, and an actuating device carried by the conveying means adapted to actuate the counting mechanism to cause the same to operate the marking device at predetermined times.

12. The combination with a cup forming machine, of means for conveying cup blanks through the machine to be formed into cups. I

a cup counting mechanism supported on the machine, a cup marking device on the conveying means, an actuating device carried by the conveying means adapted to actuate the counting mechanism, and a member adapted to be set by the counting mechanism to cause the member to operate the marking device at predetermined times to mark ofl the formed cups in counted quantities.

3. The combination with a-cup forming machine, of means for conveying cup blanks through the machine to cause the cup blanks to be formed into cups, and means operable from the machine for marking ofi the cups in counted numbers while the cup blanks are being formed into cups and advanced through the machine.

14. ,The'combinat-ion with a cup forming machine, of means for conveying cup blanks through the machine to be formed into cups, a cup receiving chute on the machine, a cup expanding device on the machine between the chute and the machine, a cup counting mechanism supported on the machine, a cup marking device on the conveying means, an adjustable actuating device carried by the conveying means adapted to actuate the counting mechanism, a member adapted to beset by the counting mechanism to cause the member to operate the marking device at predetermined times to mark off the formed cups in counted quantities, and a device operated from the machine for receiving the formed counted cups and conveying the same through the expanding device to cause the cups to be expanded and nested one within the other and then pushed into the cup receiving chute.

15. The combinationwith a cup forming machine, of a cup receiving chute, means operable from the machine for automatically delivering cups from the machine into the chute, a marking device, a control device for causing the marking device to operate at livered into the chute, and a reciprocating member operable from the machine adapted to operate the control device.

16. The combination with a flat cup forming machine, of a cup receiving chute there.- on, a cup expanding and nesting device on the machine, a cup delivering means, driving means therefor operated from the machine to cause the delivery means to draw flat cups through the expanding device to open the cups and nest the same one within the other for delivery into said chute, a reciprocating deviceoperable from the machine, a marker thereon, a pivoted member for actuating the marker at predetermined times to mark off the cups in counted numbers beforedclivery into the expanding de vice, a'counting mechanism adapted to set the pivoted member, and a reciprocating rod driven from the machine for operating the counting mechanisnieach time a cup blank is advanced through the machine.

17. The combination with a cup receiving chute, of means for delivering cups thereto, and a pair of rails having beveled flanges between which the cups pass to cause opening of the cups and nesting thereof before being delivered into the chute.

18. The combination with a flat cup forming machine, of means for automatically counting off the cups during the process of the formation of the cups.

19. The combination with a flat paper cup forming machine and a reciprocating carriage 'thereof,.of a cup markin carried by the carriage adapte the cups in'counted quantities.

20. The combination with a cup expanding and nesting device, of reciprocatin means for delivering cups thereto, a secon reciprocating means, a cup marking device carried thereby, and means for operating the marking device at predetermined times.

21. The combination with a fiat cup forming machine, of cup expanding rails mounted thereon, and means operated from the machine for feeding flat cups between the rails to expand and nest the cups one within the other.

22. A cup forming and stacking machine comprising mechanisms for forming fiat paper cups from cup blanks, means for counting and marking off the cups while being formed, and mechanisms for opening the flatcups and nesting the same one within the other in stacked relation.

23. In a cup forming machine, a reciprocating carriage, cup forming mechanisms, :1 plate carried by ing on blanks to the forming mechanisms to be ormed into cups, a cup marking device mounted on the carria e, and means for actuating the same at re etermined intervals of time to count o the cups.

In testimony-whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

cEsARE BARBIERI.

mechanism to mark of! the carriage for convey 

